Cards on the Table
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Summary
Editor's review
As an editor, I believe the brilliance of Cards on the Table lies in the fact that it is not merely a simple game of "whodunit." Agatha Christie seamlessly blends the tactical thinking of bridge with criminal psychology, immersing readers in a high-IQ battle of wits as they follow Poirot's investigation. The characterization of the four suspects is incisive; each has complex motives and vulnerable sides, lending the deductive process both human tension and depth. Compared with her better-known Murder on the Orient Express or Death on the Nile, Cards on the Table focuses more on psychological confrontation, showcasing Christie's mature skill in character development and narrative pacing.
This novel is a model of the Golden Age of classical detective fiction. Its fair-play framework presents all clues to the reader in advance, challenging their powers of observation and logical thinking. For mystery lovers, it is a pure and thoroughly enjoyable intellectual challenge. At the same time, the book's depiction of upper-middle-class British social circles in the last century offers a window into the social mores of a particular era. Reading Cards on the Table, you gain not only a gripping story but also a profound exploration of human nature, lies, and truth.
Who it's for
A good fit for
- Readers who love classical Golden Age detective fiction and the pure pleasure of solving a puzzle
- Readers interested in criminal psychology and the analysis of human nature
- Devoted Agatha Christie fans who want to read a work that leans more heavily on psychological game-playing
- Fans of suspense novels using the "snowbound lodge" or "closed circle"模式
Not a good fit for
- Readers seeking fast-paced thrillers with heavy action
- Readers impatient with character backgrounds and social description
Reading tips
- While reading, pay attention to the different expressions and words of the four suspects at the bridge table and under questioning—details are often the key to the case
- Try to sort out the clues and form your own deductions before Poirot reveals the answer, and enjoy competing with the detective
- After finishing the ending, look back at the dialogue and description in the first half to appreciate the brilliance of Agatha Christie's foreshadowing
About the publisher
New Star Press focuses on classic works, mystery and detective fiction, science fiction, history, foreign literature and art, and its 602 titles in the library show a balance between popular reading and humanistic depth. Representative books include The Complete Works of Shakespeare: Illustrated Collector's Edition, And Then There Were None, Murder on the Orient Express, The Player of Games, Local Government in Qing China, A Good Man Is Hard to Find and A Collection of Fine Ukiyo-e Prints, spanning classic literature, detective fiction, science fiction, local history and visual art. Its authors and contributors include William Shakespeare, Agatha Christie and Iain M. Banks, as well as translators such as Zhu Shenghao and Su Fuzhong and illustrators such as John Gilbert and George Cruikshank. Known for the detective series Midnight Library and for social-science and humanities titles, the press emphasizes edition design and reading experience; public information is limited, so this profile highlights the publishing features reflected in the library's books.
Contents
- 版权信息
- 阿加莎·克里斯蒂侦探作品年表
- 出版前言
- 致中国读者
- 前言
- 第一章 夏塔纳先生
- 第二章 夏塔纳先生家的晚宴
- 第三章 桥牌比赛
- 第四章 第一个凶手？
- 第五章 第二个凶手？
- 第六章 第三个凶手？
- 第七章 第四个凶手？
- 第八章 凶手是哪一个？
- 第九章 罗伯茨医生
- 第十章 罗伯茨医生（续）
- 第十一章 洛里默太太
- 第十二章 安妮·梅瑞迪斯
- 第十三章 第二位访客
- 第十四章 第三位访客
- 第十五章 德斯帕少校
- 第十六章 埃尔西·贝特的证词
- 第十七章 露达·达维斯的证词
- 第十八章 茶歇时间
- 第十九章 探讨案情
- 第二十章 卢克斯摩尔太太的证词
- 第二十一章 德斯帕少校
- 第二十二章 来自康比埃克的证据
- 第二十三章 一双丝袜的证据
- 第二十四章 排除三个凶手？
- 第二十五章 洛里默太太如是说
- 第二十六章 真相
- 第二十七章 目击证人
- 第二十八章 自杀
- 第二十九章 意外
- 第三十章 谋杀
- 第三十一章 底牌
FAQ
Is the great detective in Cards on the Table Poirot?
What distinguishes this book from Agatha Christie's other works?
Will not having played bridge affect my reading?
Comments
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About the author
Agatha Christie (1890–1976) was a British detective novelist, widely known as the "Queen of Crime." Over her lifetime she wrote more than eighty detective novels, generally classified as foreign literature and suspense or mystery fiction, and is noted for tightly constructed plots, steadily mounting suspense, and unexpected endings. She created two contrasting detectives: the Belgian investigator Poirot, who relies on deduction and his "little grey cells," and the elderly village spinster Miss Marple, who sees through appearances by drawing on everyday human nature and close observation. Her representative works include And Then There Were None, The Murder of Roger Ackroyd, and Murder on the Orient Express; the first is admired for its closed-circle structure of a nursery rhyme killing on an isolated island, while the second is often praised for its narrative technique. Her books have been translated into many languages and have had a lasting influence on later mystery writing, and they have long attracted a wide readership in the Chinese-speaking world as well.
Public information about Xin Kejia is limited. So far only four of the author's works are held in the database, with representative titles including The Three Coffins, Cards on the Table, A Pocket Full of Rye, and The King of Locked Rooms: John Dickson Carr's Impossible Crime Fiction Series (5 volumes). Judging from these titles, the author's work is closely tied to mystery and detective fiction and foreign literature, particularly the translation or compilation of classic locked-room mysteries and impossible-crime stories. Available information is insufficient to confirm nationality, dates of birth and death, or personal background; the contribution lies mainly in bringing relevant detective works to Chinese readers and offering concentrated selections for those who enjoy honkaku mystery and locked-room puzzles, making it a useful reference for readers interested in classic detective fiction and foreign genre literature.
